Dear Mrs. Bielss:

This letter is to spread some news and also to reach those folks that look out for my letters here in the Tribune-Progress. I was told that my letters need to be sent out more often and I apologize for not contributing as I should have.

If you haven’t been paying attention to things around Bartlett you are missing quite a bit. First of all, our boys and girls just finished their Barracudas season of football and cheerleading. It was good to see parents and children working together, spending time together, with not a television set in sight. Truly raising a child starts with those moments of time that a parent and child spend together productively. Those parents that contributed to this Barracudas season did more than spend time with their own child, they helped to raise every other child participating too. Thanks to every parent for sharing this gift of love.

Not only can I tell if parents are working with their child outside of school on the playing field, it is also observable if the child is being read to or reading at home. Every child here at Bartlett Elementary is asked to read at least twenty minutes at home each day. This reading can be something assigned by the school, a library or class book, or it can be something for fun. A newspaper or magazine that your child enjoys reading is very much satisfactory. I did my best to avoid reading when I was in first grade. This dislike could have stunted me for life, but my mom, the language arts teacher, forcing the issue, as difficult as it was, made me read. This has helped me my entire life. Reading is not only vital to my education and my job, but is an enjoyable pastime, as well.

Make sure that you are reading with your child or grandchild at home. Most children will never play or cheer for the Dallas Cowboys. They will spend the rest of their life reading.

As to some news, the Bartlett Elementary School Christmas Program will be held on the evening of December 8. Everyone is welcome to come and share in the festivities. We will begin at 6:00 p.m. Our third annual Christmas Basket Auction will occur throughout the program. Please come support your children while they spread some Christmas cheer. I hope to see you in our cafeteria. It will be a fun event!

Lastly, I don’t know if these letters are part want ad, letter to the editor, or political statement, regardless, special thanks are due to the Tribune for printing them and to everyone that reads and shares the content contained within.

Respectfully Submitted,

Allen Reese

Principal

Bartlett Elementary School